Donald Trump, who announced that he is taking his first run at the White House on the promise that he will 'bring back' the American dream, reportedly chose Young's anthemic song to kick-start this huge moment in his life and career.
"Rockin' in the Free World" seemed to be an odd choice, given the fact that the song is supposedly a criticism of George HW Bush's presidency and his free-market economic policies upon which Trump is said to have built his empire. The song also 'slams' the Republicans for their 'disregard toward the lower-class.'
Naturally, the Canadian singer-songwriter and musician was not too pleased with Trump using his tune without any authorization. Young is also said to be a supporter of Democrat Bernie Sanders for president of the US.
"Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin' in the Free World' in his presidential candidacy announcement," a spokesperson for Young's Lookout Management told Rolling Stone.
However, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said that the entrepreneur was a fan of Young's music, although their political views differed, and that the track was played legally. "Through a license agreement with [performance-rights organization] ASCAP, Mr. Trump's campaign paid for and obtained the legal right to use Neil Young's recording of 'Rockin' in the Free World' at today's event," the spokesperson told Rolling Stone. "Nevertheless, we won't be using it again - there are plenty of songs to choose from."
Incidentally, Trump and Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie reportedly stood up and sang along to another Neil Young's song "Let's Impeach the President," at a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young concert at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2006.
Watch Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" video:
